Wednesday was the first day New York school students entered the classroom without masks for the first time in nearly two years. Bob Lowry, of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said schools have been preparing for this moment.

Late Tuesday night, the state released guidance for schools that made masks optional in most circumstances. Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for the first five days, then wear a mask for days six through ten. Lowry told Capital Tonight that the guidance gives school districts some flexibility. Counties will have the ability to adopt mask mandates in schools, if warranted.

Under new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, 10 counties in New York state have high levels of COVID-19 transmission. Masks are still required in state-regulated health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters. The federal government requires masks on trains, planes, buses and in airports and train stations.

Lowry said the guidance from the state was developed after extensive conversations between Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration, the Department of Health and school leaders. Lowry said these conversations with school leaders are a continuing aspect of the Hochul administration and added “that was something we never experienced under Gov. Cuomo.”